The Timothy Group

MEL TROTTER MINISTRIES, a gospel rescue mission, recently commissioned The Timothy Group to lead its Board in developing a comprehensive, multi-year strategic plan. Timothy Group consultants met with ministry leaders to identify key questions and issues, then crafted and e-mailed an extensive planning questionnaire to staff members, board members, and selected key supporters. The Timothy Group analyzed responses generated by the questionnaire and presented findings to the Board of Directors during a one-day Board Strategic Planning Retreat. The Timothy Group consultant led Directors and other retreat participants in revising the ministry's mission statement, developing a new mission statement, and writing new strategic goals.

Commenting later on the Board's planning experience, the Mel Trotter Ministries Board Chairman said, "Universally, the feedback has been great. Many have said, 'best meeting we ever had,' we had the most feedback we ever had, there was no sense of commandeering, etc. I am so pleased that so many spoke so often! I am trying to get on to the next steps immediately. The iron is hot, we must strike! Thanks again and I will pray for your ministry."

The Timothy Group planning model includied a Board workbook, provocative forward-thinking questions, highly interactive sessions, and a drive toward consensus. Regarding the planning process, the Mel Trotter Ministries President said, "I want to commend you for the professional and skillful way in which you led my Board in strategic planning in 2008. Yourdisciplined approach was exactly what we needed to help us accomplish our goal of crafting a new plan for the future. You were sensitive to our unique needs as a gospel rescue mission and didn't use a cookie cutter approach or one-size-fits-all method.

The Timothy Group completed its assistance by presenting the Board of Directors with a Strategic Planning Report summarizing the entire process and findings, detailing Board retreat conclusions, and recommending profitable next steps toward action and goal-fulfillment. The Timothy Group's commitment to Christian stewardship informs its planning model, enabling clients to identify and employ best practices for using their God-given resources wisely.

TEAM-The Evangelical Alliance Mission of Wheaton, Illinois, needed to build capacity and raise needed capital to launch a new communication and ministry network. Dr. Charlie Davis, President, and Mrs. Shelley Cochrane, Vice President of Mobilization, invited The Timothy Group to help with this effort. With 750 missionaries around the world and a budget of over $30 million annually, the challenge was to raise over and above gifts for this campaign. We could not divert funds already committed to missionaries to fulfill the campaign goals. "The campaign was successful and more than that, it served as a training ground for senior leadership and stewardship staff to experience what it really means to build relationships and invite people to participate in what God is doing by giving generously," says Shelley. "From your CSA institute on Major Donors, to the leadership in our Capital Campaign, we have benefited greatly from your wealth of experience and practical resources." It was truly a TEAM effort in this campaign with the staff, donors, volunteers, missionaries, outside funding sources, and of course God.

Rev. Ernie Mills and Gail Mills, co-founders of Durham Rescue Mission in Durham, NC, and Patrick McLaughlin, along with the Board held a press conference on January 18, 2011 to announce the largest gift in the Mission’s 37 year history. This $800,000 gift puts the Mission at 70% of their goal for the Center of Hope Campaign. The Timothy Group has led them through the Pre-Campaign Study, the Quiet/Leadership phase of the campaign, and will now lead them through the Public Phase of the Campaign.

CHRISTIAN REFORMED WORLD MISSIONS is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This international missions agency had an operating budget of over $10 Million. CRWM asked the Timothy Group to train its major donor officer. We work with each officer to identify donor prospects and develop a plan for each one. We walked along side, and coached them on the implementation of those plans until the officer was able to take over without further help.

DEGAGE MINISTRIES is a coffeehouse ministry located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Responding to growing service demands, it asked The Timothy Group to guide its leaders through strategic planning. The Timothy Group helped the agency gather needed information, guided the leaders through a week-end retreat and prepared the report redefining the role fo the Executive Director and providing future direction for programs and facilities.  Today, Degage also provides life enrichment, food pantry and evening drop-in services.

WAYSIDE CROSS MINISTRIES provides ministry to the hurting, helpless and homeless of Aurora, Illinois. When the City of Aurora purchased a Catholic High School and Nun's living quarters to convert into a service center, they looked to Wayside Cross Ministries to provide a shelter for homeless women and children. Wayside took responsibility for making changes to the facility that would provide quality living accommodations for its residents. Partnering with Wayside, The Timothy Group gave leadership to a successful campaign that resulted in completion of a beautiful facility that now provides safe, comfortable, dignified housing for women and children.

Wayside again contacted The Timothy Group as they began planning for a new facility for the men's ministry.  A comprehensive pre-campaign study was conducted in 2008 and the results supported moving forward with the planned campaign.  The Timothy Group will continue to provide guidance and training of volunteers as Wayside utilizes the experience and knowledge of their development staff to accomplish the goal of a $5-7 million building campaign.